No promises made, but Belcher believes UFC on FOX 3 win worthy of title consideration

http://mmajunkie.comEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – On a fight card filled with title implications, Alan Belcher (18-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) believes he should be in line for a belt.

“I feel like I’m the best in the division, and there’s no road too fast to the title,” he said following a TKO win over Rousimar Palhares (14-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at UFC on FOX 3. “So whatever happens, let’s do it.”

UFC president Dana White might not be ready to roll out the red carpet on a title shot, but he believes Belcher took a huge step forward.

“The kid came out and performed incredibly, and it definitely puts him in the top-five in that weight class,” White said at the event’s post-fight press conference.

UFC on FOX 3 took place on Saturday, at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Its main card aired live on FOX while preliminary-card fights went to FUEL TV and Facebook.

Eight months ago, Belcher had just returned after an eye injury endangered his career and was simply happy to be back in the cage. Now, he’s on the short list for a shot at middleweight champ Anderson Silva’s title.

Minutes before he pounded Palhares out, however, White – along with probably half the audience – was ready to write him off. Palhares powered him to the mat early and was soon working for a devastating leglock. Belcher, though, managed to wriggle free.

“I knew for a fact when that fight went to the ground, it was over, meaning the other way,” White said. “I thought [Belcher] was going to get submitted, especially when he was in that kneebar deep.

“Not only did he pull out of it, but when he stayed in [Palhares’] guard, I was like, ‘What is he doing? Why is he staying in his guard?'”

Belcher admitted that wasn’t exactly part of the plan.

“My gameplan was to stay out of a grappling situation, just to be totally safe,” he said. “I dreamed about it a little bit, about submitting him, and shocking everyone like that. But that was just a dream.”

In fact, being on the mat with Palhares would be considered a nightmare for most. But Belcher said his training kicked in from the moment the action went south.

“As soon as he got in deep, I just turned the corner and took his back,” he said. “I did the best with what was given to me. I messed up a little bit and had to defend he leglocks, but I was never in trouble.”

In banking so heavily on submissions, Palhares exposed himself to strikes when Belcher was able to evade him. A flurry of elbows and punches from Belcher rained down on him from guard and dazed him enough to prompt a referee stoppage late in the first frame.

Prior to Saturday’s setback, Palhares had only fallen short to the likes of Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt. It was just his third loss in 10 octagon appearances.

Belcher said he brought in several submission specialists, including UFC vet Dean Lister, to put him through his paces on the mat.

“All those positions are stuff that they tapped me out so many times in the first week, and after that, they couldn’t get me any more,” Belcher said. “I was just really prepared.”

With four straight wins inside the octagon, Belcher brings a good case for a marquee fight in his next booking.

Title shot? Maybe that’s a bit premature, but it’s full steam ahead for “The Talent.”

“I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove, but I did feel like I proved something,” Belcher said. “Some people had to eat their words.”

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